Prenatal with Birth Preparation as of 32 weeks

Prenatal (Gentle)

Birthlight was founded in 2005 with the aim of offering a holistic approach to pregnancy, birth and the first few years using mostly yoga and other related therapies . Our offering has expanded over the years so as to include Yoga for women in all stages of their lives, with land based as well as aquatic practices.
Birthlight is affiliated to Birthlight UK and its founder, the Anthropologist Françoise Barbira Freedman, who inspired by the gentle approach to parenting of the Amazonian people dedicated her life to developing safe practices for the perinatal period.
Our international team is composed of a talented and experienced group of teachers who share a common desire to accompany women.
All of the Birthlight teachers are trained professionals recognized for their expertise by many health insurance providers.
Each member of the team brings her own personal touch to her classes, allowing for a wide range of diversity within the offering at Birthlight.

Katia Wharton

Katia Wharton is the owner and manager of Birthlight Zurich.

After a dance training in classical and contemporary dance and various performances abroad and in Switzerland, Katia Wharton came into contact with Yoga in 1995 in London. She found through the practice of yoga and meditation a feeling of inner peace which she liked from the start. She felt round, filled with light and carried by it. It brings her moments of intensive sense of presence in her body, moments in which the mind feels less scattered, stops to chatter and thoughts become calmer. She is at heart a mystic. Questions such as Who am I? Where do I come from? Where I am going? accompany her journey within.

She has practised various forms of Yoga from Iyengar to the more dynamic Ashtanga and Vinyasa Yoga to the Yoga de l’énergie. After completing her yoga training at Yogaarts in Australia (9 months Intensive Sadhana), we went on to train with Françoise Babira Freedman, who inspired her to teach Perinatal and Baby Yoga and to build up the Birthlight Center in Zürich with Cheryl Bernardi.

From Birthlight and the Yoga de l’énergie she takes the joy of Being in the moment. Her classes integrate safe movements, the Birthlight micromoves and sounding. She likes to empower women in the birth they have chosen. Although she favours a natural birth, she believes that it is not the type of birth that you choose that counts, but your experience of it. It is not about achieving anything but about being present with what is, as it comes, and feeling connected to yourself through love with your baby. This trusting in the moment makes a natural birth easier.
Katia also loves to teach Baby Yoga. There are moments of joy in which women create a loving connection with their babies through movement, sound and singing.

Claudia Vögelin

Sports, movement, and dance have accompanied Claudia from her early childhood throughout her life. In 2003 she took her first Power Yoga class and was thrilled about the possibilities that Yoga had to offer. Through Yoga she found not only physical strenght and fitness, but also flexibility, softness and inner peace.

Francisca Anselmi

After studying Economics and working for 18 years in Business Administration and the Banking sector, 6 years in the field of Education & Social work and by becoming a mother of two young children, Francisca understands the demands that both corporate life and motherhood places on us as individuals.
To balance the needs of these challenges in life and with a desire to contribute to making a conscious change in our society’s “way” of living, she has for many years been practising and studying Yoga. She found in YOGA not only many answers to what her spirit was longing for but also a way of life, and became a Certified YOGA Teacher specializing in YOGA for Pregnancy & Kids. This journey was her way to fulfil her need to find harmony in herself and also sparked her desire to contribute via the art of YOGA to conscious pregnancy, birthing and early parenting, thus setting the foundation for life-long health and happiness in a child. She also taught YOGA as Therapy to business people under stress & burn out in the corporate world in Zurich for several years. Her teaching is dynamic and soft, and a journey to the inner self. Mudras, pranayama and mantras are essential components to accompany her classes. Her motto is that pregnant women can reconnect with the primordial wisdom of the creative feminine power during the process and live their pregnancy and beyond, with much confidence and JOY. In YOGA for KIDS, through the practice of movement, chanting and FUN, Francisca encourages them to be themselves, to develop their own talents and motor skills, as well as Kindness, Mindfulness and LOVE, among other so valuable skills and tools for life. At that point, in the process, YOGA occurs naturally, this is the aim.

Gisela Collazo

Gisela’s yoga journey began in 1995 when she attended her first hatha yoga class. Since this time she has been a dedicated student of yoga, and has trained with many world-renowned yoga teachers from all over the world. Since receiving her certificate as a qualified yoga teacher in 2003, Gisela has taught hatha yoga in several studios in Zürich, as well as running her own classes. In 2005 Gisela spent 4 months in India training with the Master of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, Guruji Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, as well as exploring other forms of yoga practice. Gisela joined the Birthlight team in 2005 as apprentice for prenatal yoga.

Since becoming a mother in 2007 Gisela has been living yoga in a very different way than she did before. She has learned to appreciate the wisdom of yoga’s philosophical teachings by applying them in dealing with the joys and challenges of parenting. Every day her two children remind her that life is in the here and now and teach her appreciation and acceptance of what is.
In October 2009 Gisela was awarded the Birthlight Perinatal Yoga Diploma and is a qualified teacher of pre and post-natal yoga. She has appointed Birthlight Tutor for Switzerand which enables to teach Prenatal Yoga to aspiring perinatal Birthlight teachers. We are truly privileged to count her among our teachers.

Aqua Yoga for Pregnancy

Aqua Yoga for Pregnancy is a gentle yet most effective form of exercise using water for buoyancy, deep stretching and relaxation. It is particularly suited for pregnant women, allowing them to expand their breathing capacity without overheating, and to stretch and relax simultaneously.
It incorporates yoga poses and swimming techniques for pregnancy designed to open the pelvis, and tones the legs and back muscles.
Aqua Yoga can be especially beneficial in the late phase of pregnancy, when one feels heavier and the uterus pulls on the lower back, often causing aches and pains.
Floating as a technique for relaxation is incorporated to convey the practitioner into an anxiety-free state, in which worries and fears surrounding the birth can be released.
Bring with you: bathing dress, bathing slippers, towels and goggles.
Heated private pool 33° with outstanding view over the city (32nd floor). Parking possible in the garage of the hotel.
Meeting by the poolside

Baby Swimming (8 weeks to 12 months)

Birthlight’s methods are designed to create an excellent foundation for the child’s future in the water, promoting safe practices and confidence. As well as this, the classes are an ideal environment for mothers and their new babies to bond, for children to begin to socialise and for whole families to spend quality time together.
Birthlight believes that a life long love of water and enjoyment of swimming are best generated by a confident and loving handling of babies in water, by swimming with babies and by imparting gentle progressive methods towards unaided swimming, without ever resorting to forceful conditioning. The sooner a child discovers the freedom of buoyancy and underwater swimming, the more relaxed and independent he or she will be in water.
Courses for Mom and Baby / Toddler. Dads are welcome.

Baby Yoga/Baby Shiatsu

for babies as of 6 weeks to roughly 8 months with a carer.

This course aims to increase bonding and communication between baby and carer. Dadies and/or grandparents are more than welcome.
You will be shown ways to help support your baby in its development though touch (shiatsu) and appropriate baby handling (baby yoga). You will given tips that may help you more security in handling your baby.

Core Yoga

In Core Yoga Core Stability and Core Strength is the main dominant point of focus.
This class is ideal for women after postnatal, as a continuation to recover muscular tonus. For all levels.

Core stability is a term that describes the stretch and control of the muscles around the abdomen and back that provides a base for the movement of other parts of the body. In yoga, core stability is key for proper alignment and balance in asana practice. Many yoga poses also build core stability and strengthen the pelvic floor.

Hatha Flow

An intensive flowing yoga class in which postures are held for at least five breaths. The gentle build up in the asanas allows you to progress safely.
A nice continuation for after the postnatal training.

Mum and Babies (8 months to 18 months)

This course builds up from our postnatal classes. The Babies are now older, more active and independent. While the mums continue to strengthen and gently stretch their bodies, the babies are curious to meet other babies of a similar age and like to mingle or play with some of the objects and musical instruments scattered on the floor.
We continue to integrate the babies playfully in the class through eye contact, sounds, singing and elements of baby yoga. This creates a bubble of joy that enhances the bonding.

While core strength stays priority, the focus of the class is entirely adapted to the participants needs.
You are welcome to feed your baby before, during and after class.

Postnatal Pilates with Baby (course block)

A Postnatal Pilates course block with fixed appointments and a gradual build up in intensity. Ideal to regain strength after birth. The main focus is on pelvic tonicity and core strength.

Accessible as of 6 weeks after birth or 8 weeks if you had a c-section.

Postnatal Pilates without Baby

A postnatal pilates without baby. The main focus is on the pelvic floor and gain core strength

Postnatal Pilates without Baby (course block)

Postnatal Pilates without Baby
Pilates is a particularly efficient method for the postnatal period. As J.H. Pilates puts it: „one feels a difference after 5 sessions, after 10 one sees it, after 20 one has a new body“.
The body undergoes many changes during pregnancy and birth. Pilates aims to rebuild strength while regaining correct alignment and flexibility. Awareness of core strength and of the pelvic floor is encouraged. Through focused awareness, there is an increase in blood supply to the pelvic floor . The pelvic and its several layers becomes stronger. This in turn gives more hold and closure.

Postnatal with Baby and without Baby (as of 6 weeks)

To come to a postnatal class with your baby and to our mum and baby yoga classes is an opportunity to spend valuable time together, to create a rhythm in your daily routine and to establish lasting connections with other mums and babies.
Our focus is on the pelvic floor and on gently strengthening the belly and back muscles. For overall well-being, we ease tension in the neck and shoulders through movement and stretching. We work on the feet and legs for stability.
We gradually realign the skeletal system.The babies are integrated in the class, so as to encourage bonding. For this, we use elements of baby yoga. We encourage innate movements of the baby, show safe holds and the use sound and singing to stimulate all senses. This helps your baby with digestion and sleep pattern and builds up your self-confidence as a mother.

Postnatal without Baby (as of 6 weeks to up to two years after birth)

To come to a postnatal class with your baby and to our mum and baby yoga classes is an opportunity to spend valuable time together, to create a rhythm in your daily routine and to establish lasting connections with other mums and babies.
Our focus is on the pelvic floor and on gently strengthening the belly and back muscles. For overall well-being, we ease tension in the neck and shoulders through movement and stretching. We work on the feet and legs for stability.
We gradually realign the skeletal system.The babies are integrated in the class, so as to encourage bonding. For this, we use elements of baby yoga. We encourage innate movements of the baby, show safe holds and the use sound and singing to stimulate all senses. This helps your baby with digestion and sleep pattern and builds up your self-confidence as a mother.

Prenatal

Birthlight Yoga for Pregnancy includes yoga movements, breath awareness, sounding, and deep relaxation.
Birthlight Yoga is a safe practice for pregnant women. It can help you enjoy your pregnancy, alleviate aches and pains, bond with your baby and help you prepare for labour and birth.
It may facilitate contact with other mothers-to-be as well as ease you into motherhood.
You may start with the prenatal training as of the 12th week of your pregnancy and attend class until birth.

We offer three levels of intensity: Gentle, Moderate, Intense and a Prenatal with Birth Preparation as of 32 week of pregnancy.

Vinyasa Yoga

The word “vinyasa” can be translated as “arranging something in a special way,” like yoga poses for example. In vinyasa yoga classes, students coordinate movement with breath to flow from one pose to the next.
Derived from Ashtanga Yoga, this class is a demanding class and is suitable for anyone desiring a strong, physically demanding practice of yoga.

Yoga für Frauen

Yoga for women is a gentle yoga practice that helps you with resetting your body connection and recognizing your personal rhythm for creating a condition of well-being.
The class is for women searching relaxation as well as rejuvenation and a more yin feminine quality to their practice. Yoga for women essentially relaxes and allows us to open our hearts, allowing energy to flow and communication to develop from this flow. Its gentle approach aims to recover qualities of effortlessness and whole-being.

During the classes, you will learn strengthening poses and flowing movements, combined with specifically developed therapeutic micro-movements to support the neuro-endocrinal and reproductive system. It tonifies and relaxes the pelvic floor.

All classes include relaxation and the cultivation of inner peace through asanas, flowing movement and stretches, pranayama, meditation, mudras and mantras.

Well Woman is a yoga for women of all ages and going through various life situations. Practices are easy to follow and are accessible to beginners as well as to the most experienced yoga practitioners. The practice provides support in challenging (life-)phases like general fatigue, illness, illness-recovery, pregnancy, postnatal and menopause but is suitable for all women.